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Masahiro Nakai, a TV host and former pop star in Japan, retires after sexual assault report

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Masahiro Nakai, a TV host and former pop star in Japan, retires after sexual assault report
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Masahiro Nakai, a TV host and former pop star in Japan, retires after sexual assault report

2025-01-23 17:31 Last Updated At:17:40

TOKYO (AP) — Masahiro Nakai, one of Japan’s top TV hosts and a former pop star, said Thursday he was retiring to take responsibility over sexual assault allegations that are part of a wave roiling Japan's entertainment industry and have triggered an avalanche of lost advertising at one of the networks where he worked.

Weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun reported in December that Nakai had reached a 90 million yen ($580,000) settlement with a woman over the alleged sex assault at a 2023 dinner party that Fuji TV staff allegedly helped to organize. He acknowledged “a trouble” and a settlement, while denying any violence, in a statement earlier this month. The magazine has also alleged that Fuji TV has long exploited its female announcers to entertain stars like Nakai.

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FILE - This photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency shows Masahiro Nakai, one of Japanese pop group SMAP members, posing for a photo during an exclusive interview with Xinhua in Beijing, Sept. 14, 2011. (Jin Liangkuai/Xinhua via AP, File)

FILE - This photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency shows Masahiro Nakai, one of Japanese pop group SMAP members, posing for a photo during an exclusive interview with Xinhua in Beijing, Sept. 14, 2011. (Jin Liangkuai/Xinhua via AP, File)

FILE - This photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency shows Masahiro Nakai, one of Japanese pop group SMAP members, posing for a photo during an exclusive interview with Xinhua in Beijing, Sept. 14, 2011. (Jin Liangkuai/Xinhua via AP, File)

FILE - This photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency shows Masahiro Nakai, one of Japanese pop group SMAP members, posing for a photo during an exclusive interview with Xinhua in Beijing, Sept. 14, 2011. (Jin Liangkuai/Xinhua via AP, File)

Fuji Television Network President Koichi Minato speaks during a news conference at the headquarters in Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (Makiko Kosaka/Kyodo News via AP)

Fuji Television Network President Koichi Minato speaks during a news conference at the headquarters in Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (Makiko Kosaka/Kyodo News via AP)

Fuji Television headquarter building is seen Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Fuji Television headquarter building is seen Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Fuji Television headquarter building is seen Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Fuji Television headquarter building is seen Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

“I, Masahiro Nakai, is retiring from entertainment activity as of today,” Nakai said in a statement distributed to his paid fan club and posted on social media by apparent members. Japanese media also confirmed and reported his retirement.

“I am truly sorry for causing trouble and losses to so many people,” Nakai said, and repeated his “sincere apology” to the woman. “I'm really, really sorry for saying good-bye this way ... Sayonara.”

Japan’s entertainment industry is in the midst of a wave of sexual assault cases, including the abuses of hundreds of boys and young men by late talent mogul Johnny Kitagawa, whose now-defunct agency Johnny & Associates managed many boy bands, including the one to which Nakai belonged, SMAP.

Last Friday, Fuji TV President Koichi Minato acknowledged the company had been aware of the problem six months before the magazine report and hadn't disclosed it. Minato apologized and said Fuji TV would investigate the case but also said he believed his employees had not done anything wrong.

After dozens of commercials were withdrawn, Fuji TV apologized for causing trouble to advertisers and agencies but declined to disclose details.

Fuji Television Network’s vice-chairperson Ryunosuke Endo, who is also head of Japanese commercial broadcasters’ association, in a news conference Thursday said he learned about the problem in December when he was asked for a comment about the scandal and “was extremely shocked.” Endo said the problem was kept confidential among a handful of people, which did not include him, to protect the victim's privacy and stand by her.

He said his company should prioritize regaining trust by explaining what happened through an appropriate third-party investigation.

Separately, Fuji TV and its parent company Fuji Media Holdings held a board meeting Thursday and announced that they have set up an independent panel of lawyers and in line with guidelines set by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.

They met following shareholders' demands for further clarification about the scandal and steps the company had taken and what measures are planned,

Nakai said in his statement that he has sorted out all negotiations of terminating his shows and contracts with television, radio and sponsors. He said he has yet to taken all his responsibility and promised to “face various problems and respond sincerely.”

Endo noted Nakai’s retirement was his “personal decision” but said Nakai was part of the upcoming investigation and that he hoped for his sincere cooperation.

Endo acknowledged attending a number of parties years ago accompanied by female announcers known as “joshi anna,” who often appear as assistants on entertainment shows. He said the parties were for networking and business, but noted the culture might have resulted from male-dominated decision-making.

AP video journalist Mayuko Ono contributed to this report.

FILE - This photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency shows Masahiro Nakai, one of Japanese pop group SMAP members, posing for a photo during an exclusive interview with Xinhua in Beijing, Sept. 14, 2011. (Jin Liangkuai/Xinhua via AP, File)

FILE - This photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency shows Masahiro Nakai, one of Japanese pop group SMAP members, posing for a photo during an exclusive interview with Xinhua in Beijing, Sept. 14, 2011. (Jin Liangkuai/Xinhua via AP, File)

FILE - This photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency shows Masahiro Nakai, one of Japanese pop group SMAP members, posing for a photo during an exclusive interview with Xinhua in Beijing, Sept. 14, 2011. (Jin Liangkuai/Xinhua via AP, File)

FILE - This photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency shows Masahiro Nakai, one of Japanese pop group SMAP members, posing for a photo during an exclusive interview with Xinhua in Beijing, Sept. 14, 2011. (Jin Liangkuai/Xinhua via AP, File)

Fuji Television Network President Koichi Minato speaks during a news conference at the headquarters in Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (Makiko Kosaka/Kyodo News via AP)

Fuji Television Network President Koichi Minato speaks during a news conference at the headquarters in Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (Makiko Kosaka/Kyodo News via AP)

Fuji Television headquarter building is seen Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Fuji Television headquarter building is seen Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Fuji Television headquarter building is seen Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Fuji Television headquarter building is seen Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Marc Fogel, an American teacher who was deemed wrongfully detained by Russia, has been released in what the White House described as a diplomatic thaw that could advance negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

Steve Witkoff, a special envoy for President Donald Trump, left Russian airspace with Fogel, a history teacher from Pennsylvania, and he's expected to be reunited with his family by the end of the day.

Fogel was arrested in August 2021 and was serving a 14-year prison sentence. His family and supporters said he had been traveling with medically prescribed marijuana, and he was designated by President Joe Biden’s administration as wrongfully detained in December.

Michael Waltz, Trump's national security adviser, said the U.S. and Russia “negotiated an exchange” to ensure Fogel's release. He did not say what the U.S. side of the bargain entailed. Previous negotiations have occasionally involved reciprocal releases of Russians by the U.S. or its allies.

Waltz said the development was “a sign we are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine.” Trump, a Republican, has promised to find a way to end the conflict.

Trump also has talked about having a good relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Last month, Trump said his administration was having “very serious” conversations with Russia about the war.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, Trump said, “We were treated very nicely by Russia, actually. I hope that's the beginning of a relationship where we can end that war.”

Asked whether the U.S. had given up anything in return, Trump replied “not much” but did not elaborate.

Fogel's relatives said they were “beyond grateful, relieved and overwhelmed” that he was coming home.

“This has been the darkest and most painful period of our lives, but today, we begin to heal,” they said. "For the first time in years, our family can look forward to the future with hope.”

There was no immediate comment from Moscow about Fogel’s release on Tuesday.

The U.S., Russia and other nations carried out a large prisoner swap in August that resulted in the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and American corporate security executive Paul Whelan, among others.

But that deal left out numerous other Americans jailed in Russia, including Fogel. Some omitted then were also not included in Tuesday’s release, including several who have had major milestones in their cases since then.

Among them is U.S.-Russian dual national Ksenia Khavana, who was convicted of treason in a Russian court shortly after last August’s prisoner swap and sentenced to 12 years in prison on charges stemming from a donation of about $52 to a charity aiding Ukraine. John Kirby, a national security spokesman at the Biden White House at that time, called the conviction and sentencing “nothing less than vindictive cruelty.”

Last October, American Robert Gilman was sentenced to more than seven years in prison in Russia for allegedly assaulting law enforcement officers while serving a sentence for another assault, while American Stephen Hubbard was sentenced to prison in a closed trial for allegedly fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine.

As the Russia-Ukraine war nears the end of its third year, Trump's plan for securing an end to the conflict remains unclear, though he has said that both sides will need to make concessions and suggested that Ukraine would have to accept the loss of at least some territory.

Fogel’s release and Trump’s announcement that he will send Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to Kyiv for talks with Ukraine’s leaders could signal that plans may be beginning to take shape.

Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s special envoy for Russia and Ukraine, retired Gen. Keith Kellogg, will all be traveling later this week to the Munich Security Conference, where the situation in Ukraine will be a major topic of discussion.

Kellogg told The Associated Press on Monday that he and the others would be talking to European officials about the very broad outlines of what Trump would like to see and gauging their interest.

“We will deliver our expectation to the allies,” Kellogg said. “When we come back from Munich — we want to deliver to the president the options, so when he does get (directly) involved in the peace process, he knows what it will look like for him.”

AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee contributed to this report from Washington.

President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah II in the Oval Office at the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington. (Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah II in the Oval Office at the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington. (Photo/Alex Brandon)

FILE - Family members, friends and colleagues of Marc Fogel, who has been detained in Russia since August 2021, rally for his release outside of the White House, July 15, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough, File)

FILE - Family members, friends and colleagues of Marc Fogel, who has been detained in Russia since August 2021, rally for his release outside of the White House, July 15, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough, File)

FILE - Ellen Keelan, center, and other family members rally outside the White House for the release of Marc Fogel, who has been detained in Russia since August 2021, July 15, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough, File)

FILE - Ellen Keelan, center, and other family members rally outside the White House for the release of Marc Fogel, who has been detained in Russia since August 2021, July 15, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough, File)

FILE - A drawn portrait of Marc Fogel, who has been detained in Russia since August 2021, hangs on rails outside of the White House during a demonstration organized by his family, July 15, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough, File)

FILE - A drawn portrait of Marc Fogel, who has been detained in Russia since August 2021, hangs on rails outside of the White House during a demonstration organized by his family, July 15, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough, File)

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